Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18429 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 13 ) 27,

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

April

Sat 18: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Swing dance sessions + Bright Street Big Band 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm.
Sat 18: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm. £27.00 (inc. bf).

Sun 19: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Lara Hopper.
Sun 19: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 19: Straight to Tape @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Edd Carr, Jonathan Proud, John Hirst. Blues trio.
Sun 19: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Tue 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval NE25 0AT. Tel: 0191 237 3697. Tickets: £14.00. ‘Pie & Pea Lunch’.
Tue 21: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £29.00., £26.00., £23.00.
Tue 21: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Jack Littlewood (drums).

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Nubiyan Twist @ Digital, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £28.75 (inc. bf).
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 7:30pm. Date, time & admission TBC.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Fri 24: Noel Dennis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. Dennis, Mark Willams, Andy Champion.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Trio Grand @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Ben Vince + The Exu @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £14.33., £11.16, £8.00. A ‘jazz adjacent’ gig!
Fri 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £13.20 (inc. bf).
Fri 24: TBC @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.

Friday, June 01, 2012

Fenkle Street the Frith Street of the North

(By RUSSELL).
Hotel Indigo opened to the public today. A 4 star hotel on Fenkle Street in Newcastle, the launch was attended by...well, I'm sure things will pick up. In the foyer (Marco Pierre White Brasserie) Graham Brown played piano. The pianist's regular gig is with the Paul James Band (resident last Friday of the month at Jesmond Dene House Hotel). Free bubbly was on offer but I resisted all attempts to get me to imbibe. Brown played Route 66. He can play - tastefully, as was the requirement on this gig. Brown, together with other members of the Paul James Band, has secured a last Sunday in the month lunchtime jazz gig at the hotel. A diner's affair, it will set you back £24.95.. 

I moved on, all of three metres down Fenkle Street, to the Assembly Rooms. A street party was about to begin. For some reason bunting was abundant, tables were covered in red, white and blue tablecloths and the entertainment was about to begin. Brian Bennett, resplendent in dickie-bow, said Welcome folks to the assembled masses - all two of them seated at a tressle table - and the Vieux Carré Jazzmen kicked-off with drummer and vocalist Fred Thompson singing Margie. 
For the record: Brian Bennett (banjo & vocals), Barry Soulsby (clarinet & vocals), Fred Rowe (trumpet & vocals), Lawrence McBriarty (trombone), Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) & Phil Rutherford (sousaphone). A mountain of cucumber sandwiches had few takers, free Pimm's likewise and then the Vieux Carré's banner fell down. A hiatus ensued as Bennett and co. got to work with the gaffer tape. I went home to read the Morning Star.
RUSSELL.
at

2 comments :

Roly said...

Russell, I hope you found a few moments to pay homage to Joe Cowen (The Blaydon Brick) at his statue and to reflect on his great contribution to Victorian Tyneside in general and the Blaydon locality in particular. I'm sure he would be looking down on all this diverse jazz activity with approval.

Saturday, June 02, 2012 4:53:00 pm
Brian Bennett said...

Hi, Russell!
This pic was taken during the band's first break (about 30 minutes after you left) - by 3.30pm the place was packed.
A brilliant, fun afternoon enjoyed by everyone including Chi Onwurah MP who was one of the invited guests.

Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:34:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive